Class Info

Date: Monday, January 16, 2017

Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Location: Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church 8445 Greiner Rd Williamsville NY 14221

Contact: JoAnn Kelsch

• • Registration & Orientation

    Registration & Orientation

  • Instructor

    
    
    

  • Date: Monday, January 16, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 1

    The Living God is a Missionary God

    God's purpose is three-fold: against evil—kingdom victory; for the nations—redemption and blessing; and for God—global glory in worship. God's purpose revealed in promise to Abraham. Exploring God's purpose for the nations: Blessing to the nations described.

  • Instructor

    

    Tom Brewster

    Christian Hands In Action , Oklahoma City OK

    Married 26 years to Rhesa Brewster Three children President - Engage Hope Ministries Deacon - Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano TX As a deacon and church leader in 1998, I realized that I had never truly accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. I made that decision and seriously began to seek to serve God with all my heart, not just on the outside. In 2011, I took a Perspectives class that completely changed my outlook on my walk and work with Christ. In 2012 God called us to full-time ministry. Today we lead a mobilizing organization and are working in Mexico, India and Uganda with indigenous ministry partners to plant churches, schools and Christian medical facilities.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, January 23, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 2

    The Story of His Glory

    Exploring God's purpose for Himself: How God has been steadily unfolding a plan throughout all nations and generations to bring about His greater glory, ultimately drawing to Himself the worship of all the peoples. Passion and prayer for God's glory.

  • Instructor

    

    Shirley Innis

    International Students, Inc., Stillwater OK

    Shirley grew up in a Christian home and at the age of 12 dedicated her life for missionary service. After graduating from Cairn University (Philadelphia College of Bible). She and her husband served as directors with Word of Life Ministries in Ecuador for 17 years and have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. She has recently been certified to teach Dog and Cat Theology material for lessons 1 and 2 and share lesson 2 with her husband. She is on full-time staff with International Students, Inc. as a City Director. She teaches in English or Spanish.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, January 30, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 3

    Your Kingdom Come

    Exploring God's purpose regarding evil: How God has accomplished a defeat of evil powers in order to open a season of history in which the nations can freely follow Christ. The kingdom of God as the destiny of all history. Christ's mission seeks a hindering of evil to bring about a sign of the coming peace of the kingdom of God. Our prayers contend with evil in order to bring about the transformation of society with Christ's kingdom in view.

  • Instructor

    

    Mimsie Robinson

    Bethel Gospel Assembly Missions, New York NY

    As the missions pastor of Bethel Gospel Assembly in New York City, Pastor Robinson has been involved in disciple-making efforts in India, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Venezuela, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and several islands in the West Indies. Through involvement with Evangelism Explosion International as a teacher/trainer, he has been able to help many believers become effective witnesses at home and abroad. His involvement with Perspectives includes serving as a class coordinator. In December 2019, he completed his Doctor of Missiology with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. In 2009, Pastor Robinson helped plant Living Water Christian Center, a bilingual French and English congregation, affiliated with Bethel Gospel Assembly which serves the spiritual needs of the growing number of French-speaking West African immigrants in New York City. Pastor Robinson and his wife, Beverly Lynn, reside in the Harlem community. They have two married adult children, Michelle and David, who are both followers of Christ and two grandsons, Samuel and Matthew.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, February 6, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 4

    Mandate for the Nations

    Jesus shows great strategic interest in Gentiles; wise strategic focus by initiating a global mission on a few disciples among the Hebrew people. The Great Commission and the ways of God's sending in relational power. Dealing with the ideas of pluralism (all religions the same) and universalism (all persons saved).

  • Instructor

    

    Harry Vellekoop

    Livonia Community Church, Lima NY

    Ordained with Elim Fellowship, member of Elim Fellowship Council of Elders. 14 years pastoral and missionary service Argentina & Paraguay, 7 yrs Director Elim World Mission Agency, 20 yrs instructor & leadership Elim Bible Institute & College. Currently pastoring Livonia Community Church, Livonia, NY. For several years annual seminar ministry to pastors throughout Paraguay on behalf of the Paraguayan National Association of Evangelical Pastors.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, February 13, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 5

    Unleashing the Gospel

    The first followers of Jesus: obedient in costly, foundational ways. The climactic act of the book of Acts is the freeing of the gospel to be followed by Gentiles without Jewish traditions as a requirement. A foundational act of God which speaks to the situations where the gospel is hindered today. Strategic suffering and apostolic passion.

  • Instructor

    

    Bruce Heckman

    Brownstown PA

    Bruce and Joyce Heckman met while serving the Lord in the Middle East. Their nearly twenty years of service in that region equipped them to prepare others for ministry among the world’s unreached peoples. They have given their lives to bring the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to those who have never heard.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, February 20, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 6

    The Expansion of the Christian Movement

    The story of God's purpose continues relentlessly from Abraham's day until the present moment. An overview of the largest and the longest-running movement ever in history—the world Christian movement. How the gospel surged through the peoples and places of the world. Important insights for our own day.

  • Instructor

    

    Chuck Walton

    Wycliffe Bible Translators - Ret., Hatboro PA

    Chuck Walton is a graduate of Cairn U, Wheaton College and Temple University. He and his wife Janice have served with Wycliffe Bible Translators for many years. Most of their career has been in the Philippines. They worked with two very different ethnic groups in there, the Itneg of Northern Luzon and the Sama of Pangutaran Island (a Muslim UPG) where they completed the translation of the New Testament. In addition to translation Chuck had been involved in mission administration and has taught Linguistics at the Wycliffe affiliate school in Dallas, Texas, Alliance Biblical Seminary in Quezon City, Philippines and the University of North Dakota. In 2013 Chuck retired but still does Mobilization for Wycliffe on a volunteer basis, and teaches ESL. They live in Newtown, PA (Bucks County). Chuck has taught for Perspectives since 2006 and is a coordinator.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, February 27, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 7

    Eras of Mission History

    The greatest explosion of growth ever has taken place in last 200 years in three "bursts" of activity. Why we could be in the final era of missions. The global harvest force comprised increasingly of non-Western missionaries.

  • Instructor

    

    Dana Goodnough

    Pittsford Community Church, Pittsford NY

    Dana L. Goodnough has been serving as pastor at Pittsford Community Church near Rochester, New York since 1985. Having grown up in the Finger Lakes region, Dana is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Calvary Bible College, and Dallas Theological Seminary. He also has a counseling degree from Liberty University and, more recently, a doctoral degree from Dallas Seminary. Dana is an Adjunct Professor at Northeastern Seminary and has helped train Christian leaders in Russia, Ukraine, and Brazil. He and his wife, Monica, have three children—Andrew (and his wife Nicole), Emma, and Adam.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, March 6, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 8

    Pioneers of the World Christian Movement

    Today we anchor the race by continuing what others have begun. It's a day of finishing. All the more reason to learn the wisdom and the heart of ordinary people who did extraordinary things in earlier generations. Reading the writings of William Carey and other leaders to discern what these people have left to us. Exploring the contribution of women in missions throughout the centuries.

  • Instructor

    

    Godwin Manuel

    Amherst NY

    
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, March 13, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 9

    The Task Remaining

    God's pressed His purpose forward until the present hour of amazing opportunity. Understanding the concept of "unreached peoples" to assess the remaining task. Recognizing the imbalance of mission resources shapes strategic priorities. The basic minimal missiological achievement in every people group opens the way for working with God against every kind of evil so that the gospel of the kingdom is declared and displayed with clarity and power. The need and opportunity of urban mission.

  • Instructor

    

    
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, March 20, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 10

    How Shall They Hear?

    Culture and intercultural communication of the gospel. Communicating the gospel with relevance at the worldview level helps avoid syncretism (blending of cultural error with God?s truth) and also enables powerful movements of the gospel. Sensitive missionaries will look for ways that God has preserved or prepared people to hear the gospel, often finding redemptive analogies for God's truth.

  • Instructor

    

    Grace Fabian

    Douglassville PA

    Grace tells her amazing story in her book, Outrageous Grace. You’ll be inspired to hear how our Almighty God brings life out of death. Grace Fabian, whose missionary husband was slain while translating the New Testament into a Pacific island language, could easily be excused if she were to carry to her grave the conviction that the loss was meaningless. “Couldn’t I also, in a gesture of adoration and faith, offer my husband’s blood as a precious ointment to my Savior?” she asked after reading in God’s word about a woman who, in an act of worship, poured out expensive perfume over Jesus’ head. She along with her husband, Edmund, lived in an isolated Nabak-speaking village in Papua New Guinea, learned the language, devised an alphabet, produced literacy materials and translated the Scripture for the 25,000 people speaking this language. God’s kindness was poured out on this family, and after Edmund’s death, Grace, along with dedicated Nabak men and women completed the translation. In 1998 the Nabak New Testament was dedicated to the glory of God. Now Grace resides in Pennsylvania where she speaks, teaches and writes, hoping that others will be inspired to join in the work of reaching Bibleless people groups around the world.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, March 27, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 11

    Building Bridges of Love

    The incarnation as a model of missionary humility. How missionaries can enter appropriate roles in order to form relationships of trust and respect to develop a sense of belonging, and thus to communicate with credibility for understanding. Explore the intricacy of identification in another culture. Explore the even greater complexity of presenting identity with integrity in a globalized, terrorized, pluralized world. Recognizing the dynamics of social structure in order to initiate growing movements of ongoing communication throughout the society.

  • Instructor

    

    Richard Mendola

    International Friendships, Upper Arlington OH

    Rich was born in Buffalo, NY, the grandson of immigrants from Italy who settled in Western, NY. His mother and father were both raised in the Italian section of the city. Although he was raised in a religious family who attended church, he did not personally know Christ until he was 17 years old. Prior to that, the death of his father at age 13 triggered a search for meaning and truth. This eventually led to studying the Bible, where he discovered that the true purpose of life was to worship and serve God. Through reading the New Testament he learned that Jesus Christ made it possible to come to God because of His sacrificial death for sins. Immediately upon coming to know Jesus, Rich had the strong desire to let others know the good news. Rich attended Colgate University in New York State where he majored in Biology and minored in Education and Philosophy and Religion. After his graduation, he had the first opportunity to pastor and was called to serve a rural congregation . At the same time he served on the Dean’s staff at Colgate University as the Director of Housing. In addition, he studied for a Master’s degree in counseling. In 1979 Rich and Janet attended.the Urbana Mission Conference. There Rich sensed a call to full time cross-cultural ministry. In 1980 he began to work full-time with international students in Buffalo, NY. At the same time, Janet attended medical school at SUNY Buffalo. In 1987 they moved to Athens, Ohio to open a new ministry to international students while Janet fulfilled her obligation to the National Health Service Corp – a program placing physicians in shortage areas. In 1991, Rich and Janet moved to Columbus, Ohio to work with International Friendships. Since 1998 he has served as the Executive Director. He also leads Bible studies and does 1-1 discipleship with students. He has written several Bible studies for internationals. He has served as the Chairperson for the Association of Christians Ministering to Internationals. Rich has also helped to plant two churches. He currently serves as lead pastor for All Nations Christian Fellowship. During Rich’s 29 years of service among internationals hundreds have come to know Jesus and many have returned as effective witnesses of Jesus among their own people. The kingdom of God is advancing among Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and atheists because of the ministry to internationals. Jesus can share many wonderful and dramatic stories of God’s work among internationals. Rich is a regular speaker at missions conferences, evangelistic outreaches, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement and is a lecturer at Vineyard Leadership Institute. Rich and Janet have 6 children: Grace, Danielle, Hope, Philip, Melody, and Paul. Rich’s interests are: Evangelism, Discipleship, trips, chess, and hats. Rich’s spiritual gifts are leadership, exhortation, and evangelism.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, April 3, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 12

    Christian Community Development

    A survey of world need. Dynamic balance of evangelism and social action. Hope for significant transformation as a sign of Christ's Lordship by Christian community development. Exploring the charge that missionaries destroy instead of serve cultures. Healing the wounds of the world between the peoples.

  • Instructor

    Mike Rufo

    Pioneers, Manlius NY

    Mike and Dorene recently sold the company they founded and operated for 17 years and now serve with the Pioneers Orlando Base. Mike is the assistant to the president for marketplace ministries. Marketplace ministries includes equipping and assisting missionaries in starting and operating businesses; and mobilizing and equiping professionals to participate in the great commission while working as an expat in a full time position.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, April 10, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 13

    The Spontaneous Multiplication of Churches

    Look beyond institutional features of churches to understand churches as dynamic movements of Christ Himself being followed. Such a view of churches as organic, living things opens up the practicality of seeing them multiply rapidly as movements and also flourish in society bearing the fruit of social transformation. Churches as counter-communities, acting as salt and light, bringing change to their cultures. How movements multiply by connecting with entire families and larger social structures.

  • Instructor

    

    Orlando Rivera

    Orlando FL

    Dr. Orlando Rivera is the Community Development Officer at Paterson Habitat for Humanity My job is to engage our homeowners with businesses, church, nonprofit, and government entities in improving the quality of life in Paterson, NJ. I accomplish this through working with local strategic partners in the areas of youth and young adult programs, quality of life initiatives, and economic development activities. Dr. Rivera also directs faith-based co-working office that focuses on Urban Entrepreneurship.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, April 24, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 14

    Pioneer Church Planting

    The hope of planting churches among unreached peoples. How the breakthrough of the gospel in an unreached people requires that the gospel be "de-Westernized". The difference of contextualizing the message, the messenger and the movement. Distinguish and appreciate people movements, church planting movements and insider movements.

  • Instructor

    De J

    International Ministries of the C&MA, Cleveland OH

    Raised internationally, Dr J navigates place and cultures intuitively without changing who he is. He has lived, worked, & served the church in multicultural settings for over 25 years. After almost 20 years of focusing on contributing to multiplying leaders and faith communities all over urban Cleveland, the Ammaris recently relocated to work with New Europeans in Germany by applying multi-cultural principles to equip urban Europeans to minister to one another and with one another.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, May 1, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Lesson 15

    World Christian Discipleship

    What it means to integrate life for Christ's global purpose as a "'World Christian". Into the great story for His glory: a Person-driven life as a way of. pursuing a purpose-driven life. The basic practices of world Christians: going, sending, welcoming and mobilizing. The essential disciplines of World Christian discipleship: community, giving, praying and learning. Simplifying your lifestyle as if in "war-time". Exploring the practical ways of pursuing God's purpose. Business and mission. Short-term mission. Welcoming international visitors. Wisdom in working with local churches and in partnership with Christians in different parts of the world.

  • Instructor

    

    Tom Brunner

    MissionNext, Strongsville OH

    Tom Brunner is the National Mobilizer for MissionNext (a Perspectives partner). He has served as Church Planting Diretor for the Christian & Missionary Alliance in the Washington DC area, was Lead Lead Pastor of The Syracuse Alliance Church (a multi-cultural church of 15 people groups in a city that was 97% unchurched). He has transitioned older churches, planted a church, and has served as a singles, missions, and youth pastor. He and his wife have ministered to missionaries in Mali and Mongolia. After taking the Perspectives Course at the USCFWM on their honeymoon, they started the first Perspectives course in the C&MA and the New York City area. He holds degrees in Biblical studies from Asbury University, Evangelism & Theology from Asbury Seminary, and has done doctoral work at Drew University and Fuller Seminary. 3 of his daughters have lived outside the US and a 4th is considered medical missions.
    
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  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, May 8, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Celebration

    Celebration

  • Instructor

    

  • Class Info

    Date: Monday, May 22, 2017

    Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• • Class Info

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